Time to let you all know what I've been up to this year and to inform you of upcoming opportunities.

I've just won second place in this show!

11th annual Best of Plein Air, Laguna Beach, CA
June 6 to the 21st.  Reception: Saturday, June 6, 6 - 9 p.m.

Laguna Plein Air Painters Association holds an annual exhibition and sale, Best of Plein Air. This is the first time I've entered and am happy to say a painting done at Lover's Point in Pacific Grove was accepted. Held at LPAPA's new home, Forest and Ocean Gallery. lpapa.org

29th annual Pastels USA, Stockton, CA
July 2 to September 13.  Reception: August 15, 1:30 p.m.

I have two paintings being framed right now to go to the Pastel Society of the West Coast Annual International Open Show, at the Haggin Museum in Stockton, CA. Always a spectacular show demonstrating how rich and varied a medium this is. For the first time entries were divided between plein air and studio. I'm delighted and honored to say I've had a painting accepted in each category. pswc.ws

9th Annual Borrego Springs Plein Air Invitational

Put on by the Borrego Art Institute as a fundraiser, this was a fun event. Great artists and spectacular vistas to paint! Ringed by high desert mountains, the valley was alive with wildflowers, jackrabbits and coyotes, and the air sweet with the scent of citrus blossoms. The first morning I awoke to new snow on many of the surrounding mountains. I was honored to receive a nice award for one of my pastels.

4th Annual Plein Air Convention and Expo

Mid April meant a road trip down the coast to Monterey, Carmel, and Big Sur . The extremely well-run event was something like a three-ring circus: so much going on from early morning to well into the evening each day, it was a challenge to decide what to attend. There were incredibly informative demos, lectures and presentations, and vendors showing all the latest in art materials. Since I gave a presentation last year, this year I was a field instructor, giving demos at each afternoon's paint out, and assisting attendees with their efforts. Imagine the coast lined with hundreds and hundreds of artists at work (and play!)  Next year's convention will be outside Tucson, AZ and I understand it's already over half full. I highly recommend it for all levels of painters.

Kern County Plein Air

After just a few days home, I was off on another road trip to participate in this inaugural fundraiser for the Arts Council of Kern, based in Bakersfield. I've driven through the region for years, and was delighted this time to spend several days painting the extremely varied topography and vistas. Highlights were painting on Tejon Ranch property as well as at Wind Wolves Nature Preserve. Isn't that an evocative name? Generous hosts (we stayed in homes), excited collectors, excellent organizers and volunteers.